Citation

Mombelet A. Soc. Compass 2009; 56(4): 530-540.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Social Compass, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0037768609345974

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

By analysing three French Satanists, the author aims to lift the veil on their perceptions of Satan and on the practices that they perform within the framework of their beliefs. The author demonstrates how Satanism is symptomatic of the major trends affecting contemporary religiosity. Then through the delicate question of the number of Satanists in France, the author draws attention to the gulf between public authorities, whose work is relayed by the media, and Satanists, but also of metalheads and gothics, all denounced as being part of a single movement. These observations having been made, the author concludes by making a distinction between Satanism and Satanic imaginary on the one hand, and between Satanism and so-called "satanic" acts on the other.